Angle adjusting mechanism for a pedaling device of a pedal exerciser

ABSTRACT

A pedal exerciser includes a base having a coupling board and a compartment. A pedaling device includes a column pivotably mounted to the coupling board. An adjusting mechanism is mounted in the compartment and includes a toothed plate and a transmission device. The toothed plate includes an upper end fixed to the column. The toothed plate further includes an arcuate toothed portion at a lower end thereof. The transmission device includes a motor, a reduction gear train, and a transmission gear. The transmission gear is coupled to an output shaft of the reduction gear train and meshes with the toothed portion of the arcuate toothed plate. The motor is operable to drive the reduction gear train, the transmission, and the arcuate toothed plate. The pedaling device pivots to adjust an angle of the pedaling device relative to the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an angle adjusting mechanism forpedaling device of a pedal exerciser and, more particularly, to anadjusting mechanism for automatically adjusting an angle of a pedalpedaling device relative to a base of a pedal exerciser to provideconvenient adjustment and enhanced utility.

Indoor exercisers are popular in modem societies by providing exercisingeffects without going to the outside. The exercisers also providerehabilitation functions for patients or people having difficulty ingetting about.

A pedal exerciser generally includes a pedaling device providing apedaling function like a bicycle and a mat on which a user can sit orlie while proceeding with pedaling with his or her hands or legs.However, the pedaling device can not suit different users of differentbody sizes if the pedaling device is at a fixed angle to a base of thepedal exerciser. Although angle adjusting devices have been provided toallow manual adjustment by the user, the adjustment is inconvenient tothe user and is difficult to patients or weak people.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide an angle adjustingmechanism allowing easy adjustment of the angle of a pedaling device ofa pedal exerciser.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an angleadjusting mechanism providing a reliable positioning effect afteradjustment.

A pedal exerciser according to the present invention includes a basehaving a mounting seat at a front end thereof and a seat at a rear endthereof. The mounting seat includes a coupling board and a compartment.The coupling board includes an axle coupling portion. A pedaling deviceis adapted to be rotated by legs or hands or a user. The pedaling deviceincludes a column on a lower portion thereof. The column includes anaxle portion pivotably engaged with the axle coupling portion. Anadjusting mechanism is mounted in the compartment of the base andincludes a toothed plate and a transmission device. The toothed plateincludes an upper end fixed to a lower end of the column. The toothedplate further includes an arcuate toothed portion at a lower endthereof. The transmission device includes a motor, a reduction geartrain, and a transmission gear. The transmission gear is coupled to anoutput shaft of the reduction gear train and meshes with the toothedportion of the arcuate toothed plate. The motor is adapted to becontrolled by a controller. The motor is operable to drive the reductiongear train, the transmission, and the arcuate toothed plate. Thepedaling device pivots about a pivot axis defined by the axle portion toadjust an angle of the pedaling device relative to the base.

Preferably, the pedal exerciser further includes an auxiliarypositioning mechanism mounted in the compartment of the base. The baseincludes a control lever and a cable connected to the control lever. Theauxiliary positioning mechanism includes a toothed block, a followerdevice, and at least one elastic element. The toothed block includes atoothed portion releasably engaged with the arcuate toothed portion ofthe toothed plate. The follower device is connected to the cable and thetoothed block. The at least one elastic element is attached to thecoupling board and the follower device. The at least one elastic elementbiases the follower device to a locked position in which the toothedblock engaged with the toothed plate. The control lever is operable tomove the follower device to engage the toothed block with the toothedplate or disengage the toothed block from the toothed plate.

Preferably, the coupling board of the base includes a first guidingslot. A guiding pin extends through the toothed block and slideablyextends through the first guiding slot. The follower device includes aconnection plate and an actuation plate. The connection plate includes asecond guiding slot and a guiding peg. A bolt is slideably extendedthrough the second guiding slot of the connection plate and fixed to thetoothed block. The actuation plate includes a guiding groove. Theguiding peg of the connection plate is slideably received in the guidinggroove of the actuation plate. The actuation plate is coupled to thecable and pivotably connected to the coupling board. The at least oneelastic element includes a first elastic element and a second elasticelement. The first elastic element is attached between the connectionplate and the coupling board. The second elastic element is attachedbetween the actuation plate and the coupling board.

Preferably, the axle coupling portion of the coupling board of the baseincludes a notch. The axle portion of the pedaling device includes anaxle pivotably received in the notch. The axle portion includes atightening knob and a tightening plate for clamping and tightening thecoupling board.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description of illustrative embodiments of this inventiondescribed in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of a portion of a pedalexerciser including an inclination adjusting mechanism according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows a partial, perspective view of the pedal exerciser of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pedal exerciser according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial, side view of the pedal exerciser, with the angleadjusting mechanism in a locked state.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, with the angle adjusting mechanismin an unlocked state.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating adjustment of an angleof a pedaling device of the pedal exerciser.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, with the pedaling device locked inplace by an auxiliary positioning mechanism after adjustment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a pedal exerciser according to the presentinvention includes a base 1, a pedaling device 2, an adjusting mechanism3, and an auxiliary positioning mechanism 4. The base 1 includes amounting seat 11 at a front end thereof and a seat 12 at a rear endthereof. A user can sit or lie on the seat 12 while using the pedalexerciser. The mounting seat 11 includes two coupling boards 13, with acompartment 131 defined between the coupling boards 13. Each couplingboard 13 includes a top end having an axle coupling portion 132 with anotch 133. At least one of the coupling boards 13 further includes aplurality of guiding slots 134 and a plurality of pegs 135. A controllever 14 is pivotably mounted to the base 1 and attached to an end of acable 141.

The pedaling device 2 is adapted to be rotated by the legs or hands orthe user. The pedaling device 2 includes a column 21 on a lower portionthereof. The column 21 includes mounting holes 22. The column 21 furtherincludes an axle portion 23 engaged with the axle coupling portion 132of each coupling board 13. The axle portion 23 has an axle 231 pivotablyengaged in the notches 133 of the axle coupling portions 132. The axleportion 23 further includes a tightening knob 232 and a tightening plate233 for clamping and tightening one of the coupling boards 13.

The adjusting mechanism 3 is received in the compartment 131 of the base1 and includes a toothed plate 31 and a transmission device 32. Thetoothed plate 31 includes mounting holes 311 at an upper end thereof.Fasteners are extended through the mounting holes 311 and the mountingholes 22 of the column 21, fixing the toothed plate 31 to the column 21.The toothed plate 31 further includes an arcuate toothed portion 312 ata lower end thereof. The transmission device 32 includes a motor 321, areduction gear train 322, and a transmission gear 33. The motor 321 isconnected to the reduction gear train 322 and controlled by acontroller. The transmission gear 33 is coupled to an output shaft 3221of the reduction gear train 322 and meshes with the arcuate toothedportion 312 of the toothed plate 31. The motor 321 is operable by thecontroller to drive the reduction gear train 322, the transmission gear33, and the toothed plate 31. The pedaling device 2 is pivotablyconnected to the mounting seat 11, with the axle portion 23 defining apivot axis of the pedaling device 2 to allow adjustment of an angle ofthe pedaling device 2 relative to the base 1, providing convenientadjustment.

The auxiliary positioning mechanism 4 is mounted in the compartment 131of the base 1 and includes two toothed blocks 41, a follower device 42,and three elastic elements 45. Two guiding pins 412 are provided foreach toothed block 41, with each guiding pin 412 extending through oneof the guiding slots 134. Each guiding slot 134 extends in a directiontransverse to the arcuate toothed portion 312 such that each toothedblock 41 can be moved to engage with or disengage from the toothed plate31 through movement of the guiding pins 412 in the guiding slots 134.

The follower device 42 is connected to the cable 141 and the toothedblocks 41. The control lever 14 can be operated to control the toothedblocks 41 to engage with or disengage from the toothed plate 31 throughtransmission by the cable 141. The follower device 42 includes aconnection plate 43 and an actuation plate 44. The connection plate 43includes guiding slots 431 and 432. A bolt 413 is slideably extendedthrough each guiding slot 431 and fixed to one of the toothed blocks 41.Another bolt 414 is slideably extended through the guiding slot 432 ofthe connection plate 43 and fixed to one of the coupling boards 13. Theconnection plate 43 can move upward and downward relative to thecoupling boards 13, moving the toothed blocks 41 upward to engage withthe toothed plate 31 or moving the toothed blocks 41 downward todisengage from the toothed plate 31. The connection plate 43 furtherincludes a guiding peg 433 and attachment holes 434. The actuation plate44 is connected to the other end of the cable 141 and includes an endpivotably connected to one of the coupling boards 13. The actuationplate 43 includes a guiding groove 441 in which the guiding peg 433 isslideably received. The actuation plate 44 further includes anattachment hole 442. The springs 45 are attached to the pegs 135 of thecoupling board 13 of the base 1 and the attachment holes 434 and 442 ofthe connection plate 43 and the actuation plate 44.

With reference to FIG. 4, before operation of the control lever 14, theconnection plate 43 and the actuation plate 44 are biased by the elasticelements 45 to a locked position. The toothed blocks 41 mesh with thetoothed plate 31 to assist in positioning of the pedaling device 2 in adesired angular position.

With reference to FIG. 5, when adjustment of the angle of the pedalingdevice 2 relative to the base 1 is required, the control lever 14 isoperated to move the actuation plate 44 via the cable 141. A peripheralwall of the guiding slot 441 presses against the guiding peg 433 to movethe connection plate 43 downward. Furthermore, a peripheral wall of eachguiding slot 431 presses against one of the bolts 413, disengaging thetoothed blocks 41 from the toothed plate 31.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, the motor 321 is activated toadjust the angle (or angular position) of the pedaling device 2 relativeto the base 1 through transmission of the toothed plate 31. Withreference to FIG. 7, after adjustment, the control lever 14 is moved ina reverse direction to return the connection plate 43 and the actuationplate 44 to the locked position under the action of the elastic elements45. The toothed blocks 41 reengage with the toothed plate 31 to fix theangular position of the pedaling device 2. The tightening knob 232 isrotated to tightly clamp the coupling board 13 with the tightening plate233, providing a reliable positioning effect.

In view of the foregoing, the adjusting mechanism 3 provides convenientadjustment of angle of the pedaling device 2 while providing a reliablepositioning effect. If desired, the pedal exerciser does not have toinclude the auxiliary positioning mechanism 4. The transmission gear 33meshes with the toothed plate 31 to provide a positioning effect whenthe motor 321 is not activated. The number of the toothed blocks 41, theguiding slots 134, the attachment holes 434 and 442, and the elasticelements 45 can be varied according to need.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,numerous modifications and variations are still possible withoutdeparting from the essence of the invention. The scope of the inventionis limited by the accompanying claims.

1. A pedal exerciser comprising: a base including a mounting seat at afront end thereof and a seat at a rear end thereof, with the mountingseat including a coupling board and a compartment, with the couplingboard including an axle coupling portion; a pedaling device adapted tobe rotated by legs or hands or a user, with the pedaling deviceincluding a column on a lower portion thereof, with the column includingan axle portion pivotably engaged with the axle coupling portion; anadjusting mechanism mounted in the compartment of the base, with theadjusting mechanism including a toothed plate and a transmission device,with the toothed plate including an upper end fixed to a lower end ofthe column, with the toothed plate further including an arcuate toothedportion at a lower end thereof, with the transmission device including amotor, a reduction gear train, and a transmission gear, with thetransmission gear coupled to an output shaft of the reduction gear trainand meshed with the toothed portion of the arcuate toothed plate, withthe motor adapted to be controlled by a controller, with the motoroperable to drive the reduction gear train, the transmission, and thearcuate toothed plate, with the pedaling device pivoting about a pivotaxis defined by the axle portion to adjust an angle of the pedalingdevice relative to the base.
 2. The pedal exerciser as claimed in claim1, further comprising: an auxiliary positioning mechanism mounted in thecompartment of the base, with the base including a control lever and acable connected to the control lever, with the auxiliary positioningmechanism including a toothed block, a follower device, and at least oneelastic element, with the toothed block including a toothed portionreleasably engaged with the arcuate toothed portion of the toothedplate, with the follower device connected to the cable and the toothedblock, with the at least one elastic element attached to the couplingboard and the follower device, with the at least one elastic elementbiasing the follower device to a locked position in which the toothedblock engaged with the toothed plate, with the control lever operable tomove the follower device to engage the toothed block with the toothedplate or disengage the toothed block from the toothed plate.
 3. Thepedal exerciser as claimed in claim 2, with the coupling board of thebase including a first guiding slot, with a guiding pin extendingthrough the toothed block and slideably extending through the firstguiding slot, with the follower device including a connection plate andan actuation plate, with the connection plate including a second guidingslot and a guiding peg, with a bolt slideably extending through thesecond guiding slot of the connection plate and fixed to the toothedblock, with the actuation plate including a guiding groove, with theguiding peg of the connection plate slideably received in the guidinggroove of the actuation plate, with the actuation plate coupled to thecable and pivotably connected to the coupling board, with the at leastone elastic element including a first elastic element and a secondelastic element, with the first elastic element attached between theconnection plate and the coupling board, with the second elastic elementattached between the actuation plate and the coupling board.
 4. Thepedal exerciser as claimed in claim 1, with the axle coupling portion ofthe coupling board of the base including a notch, with the axle portionof the pedaling device including an axle pivotably received in thenotch, with the axle portion including a tightening knob and atightening plate for clamping and tightening the coupling board.